The rationale seems to be that if it starts "backwards in the hands" (or something along those lines) then goes forward it's fine. Same with a lineout throw going wonky, starts straight then gets somehow blown off course.
Something not afforded to me on a windy day in 1988 when I had to throw in, having never done it before, as the first choice hooker was away and the reserve hooker reconned he couldn't throw. I think I got pinged 7 times for not straight until I resorted to a bullet pass to the prop at the front. The problem with that throw is it works once, but the the oppo prop is looking for it next time.
England have threatened to play that well in patches but the error count has killed it off. A better balance with Lawrence fit and Feyi-Waboso in helped as well. Had Ford has his kicking boots on it wouldn't have been as close, but Ireland the contrived to lose it having found themselves stil in touch.
O'Mahoney's calculated risk in cynically fouling cost them, as England scored immediately and they lost him to the bin and the moment swung to England.
They also were not confident of being able to see out 2 mins without giving away a penalty so kicked possession away and then in the dying moments having conceded a very wide penalty (which would have been a tough kick for Smith) went offside again very centrally, so as well taken was Smiths DG, he would have had a simple pen to win it.
Scotland blew it vs Italy and were denied by poor use of the video vs France, but they will be a handful in Dublin I hope. England will need to play as well again to see of France, but if they do keep up this level, then BP win could well be o the cards, given how loose the France Wales game was.
An exciting weekend ahead and Wales could well collect the Wooden spoon.
